With two Baylor University graduation ceremonies, first-round NCAA regional tennis matches and a Baylor-Texas Tech baseball game, all scheduled for Saturday, May 12, Baylor public safety officials are strongly encouraging that people planning to attend these events leave in plenty of time and be prepared for traffic congestion near the Ferrell Center on University Parks Drive.

"We encourage everyone to leave as early as possible, to be patient and to be prepared for slower than usual traffic," said Baylor DPS Chief Jim Doak, who will have officers directing traffic flow at intersections along University Parks, as well as the Ferrell Center entrance on LaSalle Avenue.

Graduation ceremonies will be held at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. Overflow parking will be available in the lots by the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center and Wiethorn Visitors Center, with trolleys running continuously to the Ferrell Center, beginning approximately 30 minutes before each ceremony. The ceremonies are each expected to last more than two hours.

The first rounds of the NCAA regional tennis tournament, hosted by the Baylor women's tennis team, will be played at 1 p.m. (Pepperdine vs. Penn) and 5 p.m. (Baylor vs, UT-Arlington) at the new Baylor Tennis Center. Because of graduation parking, those attending the tennis matches are advised to park in the Baylor Marina parking lot.

Baylor baseball has moved its Saturday game with Texas Tech to 7:30 p.m. at the Baylor Ballpark to alleviate some of the expected traffic congestion.

For more information, contact the Baylor Department of Public Safety at (254) 710-2222 or Lori Scott Fogleman, director of media relations, at (254) 710-6275.